If you’re planning a beginner class in miniature painting (great choice for your retail space), here’s a solid breakdown of what types of paints to use + what topics to cover across two 30-minute sessions. You can adjust based on how tech-savvy the group is, but this works nicely for newcomers.

🎨 Recommended Paint Supplies for Beginners

Types of paint & what to look for

Here are the key paint types and some recommended starter sets:

  • Most miniature painters use water-based acrylic paints. These are forgiving, dry relatively quickly, clean up with water, and have decent safety/odor. (Master The Dungeon)

  • Within acrylics, there are more hobby-specific lines (versus general craft paints). Many beginners and hobbyists recommend brands like Vallejo, Citadel (from Games Workshop), AK Interactive, etc. (Reddit)

  • Beware: VERY generic craft acrylics may work, but often are more difficult to use (brushstroke issues, pigment consistency). For a class, you’ll probably want something formulated for miniatures. One Reddit commenter:

    “Vallejo … probably the best bang for your buck.” (Reddit)

  • Paint type “families” you’ll often find in miniature-lines:

    • Base colours: solid opaque coats to cover primer/undercoat. (Wikipedia)

    • Layer or mid-tones: slightly thinner, used after base to build-up. (Wikipedia)

    • Wash/shade: very thin, flows into recesses to define shadows and depth. (Wikipedia)

    • Dry-brush/highlight paints: some lines offer heavier consistency paints for dry-brushing. (Wikipedia)

  • What to include in your beginner supply kit (besides paints):

    • Good brushes (one medium/standard size + one fine detail). (The Army Painter)

    • Primer (spray or brush-on) so the paint adheres properly.

    • Palette (wet-palette option if you want to get fancy, but a simple plastic or ceramic palette works).

    • Clean water, paper towels, proper lighting. Good lighting is especially important. (The Army Painter)

    • Varnish or fixer (matte or satin) to seal once painted (you might mention this, though maybe not cover in all depth for the first class).

  • Recommended starter paint sets:

The Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Starter Paint Set

hobby‑miniature starter paint set

$43.19 Are you just starting out with miniature painting? Or are you not sure what you actually need in order to dive in? Then the Warpaints Fanatic Starter Paint Set is the perfect option for you.In the Starter Paint Set you will find everything you need to get started with painting any wargaming system while giving you extreme value for money! It is ideal for beginners and includes the basic items you need in your hobby painting kit. The Warpaints Fanatic Starter Paint Setfeatures the essential colours needed for painting your gaming miniatures and creating beautifultabletop-quality miniatures in no time - so you Get More Time for Gaming. Inside, you will find 11 paints in total with 7 acrylic colours, 2 Metallic paints, a Wash, and a Brush-On Primer to kick off and start your paintcollection. All paint bottles come with two high-grade stainless steel Mixing Balls pre-loaded in the bottle, making it easier for you to get the perfectconsistency within a few shakes. Warpaints Fanatic paints are easy to use, high-quality acrylic paint with unsurpassed coverage and intense pigmentation. Warpaints Fanatic is the new gold standard for gamers, painters, and hobbyists of all skill levels. Also included in the Warpaints Fanatic Starter Paint Set is a painting guide, a miniature figure, and a Starter Brush – FREE.This means that with this set you have everything you need to get started - all in ONE box.

Reaper Miniatures Learn to Paint Kit (Core Skills)

complete beginner paint kit with tools

$57.99 This kit provides everything a mini-painting hobby enthusiast needs to paint, and is perfect for beginners. The case is a hardshell plastic case to provide safe transport and storage for your paints. A step-by-step guide instructs you on how to use the included paints and brushes to paint the included minis. The guide teaches skills such as laying a base, mixing paints, creating and using washes, and how to add details.

Vallejo Model Color / Basic Acrylic Paint Set

premium hobby paint brand Vallejo

$22.05 Model Color is Vallejos main line of brush-applied acrylic paint. Originating from Spain, Model Color is specially formulated to adhere to plastics and polyesters. It is intended primarily for hobby detail painting, of which many colors have Federal Standard, RAL and RLM equivalents. Formulated for smooth and uniform coverage, it has a superior levelling quality eliminating visible brush strokes. Colors may be diluted with thinners or Mediums, and can be thinned for airbrush use as well. The formula is non toxic and low odour. Brushes may be washed clean with ordinary tap water.

AK Interactive Basic Starter Acrylic Paint Set

premium hobby paint brand AK Interactive

$70.19 Discover the AK Interactive Basic Starter paint set, a must-have for all DIY and modelling enthusiasts. This well-known brand in the world of model painting offers you a complete kit to start your creative adventure. The AK Interactive Basic Starter paint set is specially designed for beginners but will also suit more experienced users. With its 12 high-quality colours, this kit will allow you to create amazing effects and bring your DIY projects to life. Each colour has been carefully selected to provide a full range from basic shades to more complex hues. This way, you can unleash your imagination and create unique and authentic designs. The brand AK Interactive is known for the quality of its products, and this set is no exception. The paints are highly pigmented, ensuring excellent coverage and a smooth application. Additionally, their special formulation guarantees perfect adhesion on all surfaces, even the most challenging ones. Whether you’re passionate about models, figures, or dioramas, this paint set is an ideal choice to bring your projects to life. You can try different techniques and achieve professional results thanks to the ease of use and the quality of the AK Interactive paints. Along with its quality colours, the AK Interactive Basic Starter paint set comes with high-quality brushes to let you work with precision and ease. You won’t need to search for the right tools; everything is included in this handy and complete kit. Moreover, the sleek and compact packaging makes this set easy to store and transport, making it the perfect companion for all your DIY adventures. You can take it with you on the go or store it easily in your workshop. In summary, the AK Interactive Basic Starter paint set is a must-have for all DIY and modelling enthusiasts. With its variety of colours, top-notch quality, and handy packaging, it’s perfect to start or complete your paint collection. Trust this renowned brand and let your creativity flow freely!

Games Workshop Citadel Paints & Tools Set

premium hobby paint brand Citadel

$38.25 Building and painting Citadel miniatures is a fun and exciting way to engage with the Warhammer hobby, and it only gets more rewarding with time. You’ll need a few tools and a set of paints to get started, and this box includes the basics that will form the core of your Warhammer hobby toolbox. Get started with comfortable clippers to remove your models from the frame, a mouldline scraper to help prepare them for paint, and a starter brush that’s just the right size to get the basics painted. You’ll find 13 different Citadel Colour paints in 12ml pots, featuring the essential colours needed to paint your first models – they're particularly suited to Space Marines of the Ultramarines Chapter and Tyranids of Hive Fleet Leviathan. The set includes Contrast and Shade paints to add extra depth to your paint schemes, and Technical paints to create textured bases.

TT Combat Water‑Based Acrylic Starter Paint Set

budget hobby paint set

$35.95 TT Combat's paint range is formulated for hobby miniatures and can be used on primed resin, plastic, metal and MDF models. Our water-based acrylic paints are suitable for brush work or airbrushing when thinned. With a wide range of colours that can also be mixed.

Maker Source Premium Acrylic Paint Set (24 Colors)

general acrylic paint set 24 colours

$19.95 Maker Source Premium Acrylic Paint provides exceptional quality, vibrant color, and silky-smooth consistency Suitable for a wide range of projects, applications, and surfaces Non-toxic, highly pigmented, matte-finish, water-based formula Excellent coverage and opacity 24 Basic Colors Set offers a vast, rich palette and can be thinned with our Micro-Mark Thinner item #29265 for miniature painting. BONUS!

Nicpro Miniature Detail Brush Set

brush set specialised for miniatures

$36.55 Set of 7 Miniature Paint Brushes: Liners 3/0, Rounds 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 0 & 2. Flats 2. Quality synthetic hair, soft and absorptive without the unwanted hair splitting or shedding. Perfect for All Sorts of Detailing. Good for nail art and face painting, work great for scale model painting,warhammer 40K, games workshop, rock painting, hobby craft, paint by numbers for adult, functional for all types of painting mediums like army paint, acrylic, watercolor, gouache or oil . Ergonomic Handle Design : Triangular handle with 7 layers UV coated, providing the perfect combination between balance and comfort, you can paint for as long as you want without pain. And they won't roll off the table. Easy To Store And Carry: Come with portable plastic brush holder and a dust bag for added protection, keep them well-organized.

Here’s a quick summary of each:

My Recommendation for Your Class

Since this is a beginner class (kids & adults), I’d suggest:

  • Choose a modest cost brand so participants don’t feel intimidated by cost (e.g., Vallejo or Army Painter starter set).

  • Provide a limited palette (e.g., 5-8 colours) plus primer and wash so they can complete a miniature in the session.

  • Emphasise the quality of the paint (brands above) vs cheap craft paints so they have a pleasant experience.

  • Have extra supplies for practise (e.g., test sprues, or cheap miniatures to try) so mistakes don’t “waste” the main piece.

🕒 Two-Session Teaching Plan (2 × 30 minutes)

Here’s how you could structure Session 1 and Session 2 for a beginner class. Each is 30 minutes, so keep it focussed but fun.

Session 1 (30 minutes): Introduction & Base Coat

Goals: Get students comfortable, understand basic supplies/paints, prime the miniature, apply base colours.
Outline:

  1. Welcome & overview (5 min)

    • Quick intro: What we’re doing, why painting miniatures is fun.

    • Show supplies: primer, paint types (base, wash, highlight), brushes, palette.

    • Briefly discuss paint types: water-based acrylics, why we use them. (Mention: they’re easy to clean, good for beginners) (Master The Dungeon)

  2. Prep & priming (5 min)

    • Demonstrate how to clean/remove mold lines, hold the miniature, prime it (spray or brush-on).

    • Explain why priming is important (paint adhesion, surface visible).

  3. Base coat application (10 min)

    • Show how to load brush, thin paint (if needed), apply a good even first coat.

    • Emphasise: don’t overload brush, use thin coats, brush in one direction if possible.

    • Let students pick one main colour (or two) and apply to their miniatures.

  4. Practice & Q&A (10 min)

    • Students apply their base coats; instructor circulates, gives tips (brush control, loading, avoiding pooling).

    • Ask them to rinse brush, keep palette clean.

    • End with “homework” style: leave the base coat to dry, think about what accent/secondary colour they might use next session.

Session 2 (30 minutes): Shading, Highlighting & Finishing Touches

Goals: Build on base coat: apply a wash/shade, add highlights, finish and varnish.
Outline:

  1. Recap & show next steps (5 min)

    • Remind: We already have base coat. Now we’ll do shading (wash) and highlighting.

    • Show demo: apply wash into recesses, let it flow; then once dry, apply lighter colour to raised areas/edges.

  2. Applying wash (8 min)

    • Show how to use a wash/shade paint: maybe a dark brown or black shade. Demonstrate how it settles into recesses.

    • Students apply their wash to their miniatures.

    • Cover how long to wait until dry (or how to speed up).

  3. Highlighting / detailing (10 min)

    • Demonstrate picking a lighter tone of the base colour for highlighting edges and raised surfaces. Maybe a fine brush for details like eyes, buttons, straps.

    • Students attempt to add one highlight colour or fine detail.

  4. Finishing & review (7 min)

    • Quick talk on sealing: varnish (matte/satin) to protect the miniature.

    • Encourage them to clean their brushes, store paint properly.

    • Review what they learned: base coat, wash, highlight, tools/brush care. Ask each to show their mini and say one thing they liked and one thing they want to try next time.

    • Suggest next steps for them if they want to continue hobby: expanding colour palette, experimenting with dry-brushing, mixing paints, basing (scenic base) etc.

✅ Additional Tips & Considerations

  • Keep the class size manageable so you can circulate and help.

  • Use an example miniature you’ve painted ahead of time to show students what the end result can look like at this beginner stage.

  • Encourage patience: remind them that multiple thin coats beat one thick sloppy coat. Thick coats obscure details.

  • For kids & adults together: maybe have a mix of “fun” colours for the kids (bright primaries) and “serious” colours for the adults. But both follow same structure.

  • Provide printed or digital hand-out of the steps (prep > prime > base > wash > highlight > seal) so participants can refer back later.

  • Ensure good lighting at the tables; as one article noted: proper lighting is essential so painters see colours correctly and can see detail. (The Army Painter)

  • Consider offering optional “challenge” for the end: pick one detail (e.g., a metallic buckle or glowing eye) to try extra highlight if time allows.

If you like, I can draft a printable instructor sheet (with bullet-points, time-breakdown, supply checklist) you can hand out to your participants or keep behind the counter. Would that be helpful?